Iowa County youth shows Judge’s Grand Champion

DES MOINES --- An Iowa County youth earned the most prestigious award of the Governor’s Charity Steer Show at the Iowa State Fair this month.

Tyson Mohr, of Ladora, his steer Batman and his celebrity partner Blake Boldon, the Franklin P Johnson director of the Drake Relays and senior associate athletic director at Drake University, earned the Judge’s Grand Champion award Aug. 12. They were sponsored by Dee Zee, Inc.

Benton County’s Emma Wayson, of Mount Auburn, was named Grand Champion Showman. Wayson, her steer Junior, and her celebrity, Iowa Secretary of State Mike Naig, were sponsored by Benton County Cattlemen and local supporters.

The 2023 steer show raised $501,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, surpassing last year’s total. The Charity Steer Show has raised almost $5.5 million since its inception in 1983, according to a press release from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

The steer show is hosted annually by the Office of the Governor of Iowa, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

Money raised from the steer show benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City which have served more than 55,000 families from all 50 states and 62 foreign countries.

The Community Hero Award, which recognizes the exhibitor who goes above and beyond collecting non-monetary donations and creating awareness for the event, went to Will Vlasek of Cedar Rapids and Colbie Fevold of Gladbrook.

Taylor Quade, of Charles City, won the People’s Choice Award.